Jhons is an 18-month-old boy from Guatemala. The youngest of four, “Jhons loves to play with his sister and pretend his little shoes are toy cars,” says our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “He likes to dance and swing his hips from side to side especially when he hears music.”
Due to acute malnutrition, Jhons “is currently far below the average height and weight for his age. His immune system is weak and he does not have an appetite,” WK reports.
“If intervention does not occur, Jhons will be at risk for the long-term effects of malnutrition,” WK shares. “His physical and mental development will be compromised and he will face higher risks of chronic disease in adulthood, as well as lower academic performance and lower economic productivity.”
Food instability causes indigenous Guatemalan villages, like Jhons’, to witness some of the highest rates of malnutrition worldwide. Although preventable, this condition can lead to further medical issues later in life.
For $535, Jhons’ will undergo nutritional therapy. Over a 90-day period, micronutrient food supplements will be added into Jhons’ diet, returning him to healthy nutrition levels.
“This treatment will supply supplement nutrition to bolster Jhons’s capability to recoup his weight and height, as well as intensive nutrition education for his parents,” WK states.
“Thank you for wanting to help us,” says Jhons’ mother. “Thank you to the organization for creating this program to help our child recover. My dream is for him to grow up and be able to go to school.”
